TRAI issues the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2026
TRAI issues the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2026
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today issued the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2026.
During various interactions with the Authority, the stakeholders had highlighted the need for:
i improving audit related provisions in the Interconnection Regulations 2017 (as amended) and the audit manual,
ii. reducing repetitive audits of DPOs, resulting in resource wastage, operational disruption, and diminished stakeholders’ confidence in the audit process,
iii. incorporating provisions related to infrastructure sharing in the audit framework, and
iv. enhancing the accountability of auditors and categorising auditors based on their experience to ensure credibility of auditors.
To enhance accountability and credibility of audit process, technical proficiency requirements, categorisation of auditors based on their experience and stringent accountability provisions have been incorporated into the Expression of Interest (EOI) document issued by TRAI in August 2025 for empanelment of auditors.
Further, to address the issues related to audit framework, TRAI issued a consultation paper on ‘Audit related provisions of Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017 and the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual’ on 9th August 2024 for seeking comments of the stakeholders. 64 comments and 03 counter comments were received from the stakeholders, which were placed on TRAI’s website. An open house discussion was held on 5th December 2024.
Subsequently, TRAI issued Draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2025 on 22nd September 2025, for stakeholders’ comments. 37 comments were received from the stakeholders which were placed on TRAI’s website.
Based on the above consultations, the Authority has finalized these Amendment Regulations. The salient features of the same include:
The aforesaid amendments in the audit related provisions in regulations, coupled with strengthening of criteria for empanelment of auditors will ensure enhanced credibility and accountability in the audit process. It will reduce the instances of repetitive audits without compromising stakeholder trust. It will also reduce costs for DPOs as well as broadcasters and ensure time bound completion of the audit exercise.
Full text of the Regulation is available on the TRAI’s website www.trai.gov.in.
For any clarification/information, Dr. Deepali Sharma, Advisor (B&CS), TRAI, may be contacted at email ID: advbcs-2@trai.gov.in or Telephone +91-11-20907774.